SUPERANNUATION SOUGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 14

SUPERANNUATION SOUGHT.

MEMBERS OF FIRE BRIGADES

ALLOWANCE ON RETIREMENT,

A move to obtain b superannuation

allowance on retirement is being marie by the permanently employed members of lire brigades in New Zealand, and a conference will he held in Wellington on Thursday fo prepare a scheme for submission to the Minister of Internal Affairs, in the hope that an amendment to the Fire Brigades Act may he obtained. The movement was started nine months ago in Auckland, and permanent men in the other large centres of the Dominion were communicated with. Brigadesmen in the other towns were willing to join in a scheme, and it was proposed to impose a levy of 5 per cent, on wages to forrn a fund, which was to be subsidised on a pound for pound basis by tin; Fire Boards or local authorities employing the men. When the, Auckland Fire Board'was approached on the matter, it expressed sympathy with the men, but pointed nut that it had no power to allow such a subsidy under the terms of its formation under the Fire Brigades Act.

All aspects of the scheme will be considered at the conference to be held in Wellington, and delegates from every brigade employing permanent men will be present. Two men who will represent Auckland will leave on Monday evening. After a definite proposal has been drawn up it will be submitted to the Minister ol Internal Affairs for his approval, with a request that an amendment to the Act allowing the scheme to come into operation should bo brought, before Parliament in tho present session. The Auckland firemen have already approached Mr. M. J. Savage, M.l\ for Auckland West, for support. The total number of men in New Zealand who would benefit by the superannuation would be about 200, and of these not mote than four or live in any centre would retire in one year. The firemen contend that such a scheme has been operated successfully in many other parts of the world, and point, to Melbourne as an example. There a superannuation scheme was instituted in 1012, and the fund is now on an excellent, footing.

Owing to the nature of their work firemen retire, at an early age, very few being retained after tho age of .SO, and the majority of them have then devoted nearly 30 years to brigade work, with the result

that when they leave the brigade (hey are unable to earn a reasonable wage at any other trade. They contenil that when men have rendered 30 years' service and are without any trade on retirement at a comparatively early age, (hey should he granted a .superannuation allowance of half their wages at the time of retirement (Published by Arrangement.)

I'IIFCK OK BREAD

IX'T KI! EST I\ 0 CO MPA 1! I SON'S

[ The argument that bread prices could he reduced if wheat could be imported duty free is not supported bv the following figures giving the cash price ol the 211>. loaf in the I'nited States, Canada and Australia (the greatest wheat-pro-ducing countries, where all the cheap wheat supplies are): — d. d. New York , . . . . . !i ( hicago . . , . , . 9^ Toronto . . . . , . G', Winnipeg jf Sydney (City) . . . . 5 Sydney (Suburbs), . , , Melbourne (City) . . . . sto f>,\ Milbourne (Suburbs) . . 5A Iho figures quoted above, which are sup]died by the New Zealand Department. of Industries and Commerce, are prices received by cable this week. The cash price in New Zealand to-day for the 21b. loaf is as follows: d. d. Dunedin ' 'hristchuich . . . . 6 Wellington b to 61 Auckland 6 to 6A